Russian TV host and comedian Maxim Galkin made his Bulgarian stage debut over the weekend and announced a return performance in Burgas on July 18.
The popular entertainer performed his first present in Sofia 30 years after initially visiting the country, recalling family vacations along the Black Sea coast and memorable encounters with Bulgarians. Galkin too expressed his affection for Bulgaria during the performance.
The comedic show on Saturday evening began with Galkin sharing memories of his 1996 trip to Bulgaria with his family. They spent nearly a month in the country, visiting relatives of his mother in Sliven and exploring destinations like Varna and Zlatni Piasatsi. “I’ve also been to Sunny Beach, of course,” Galkin said with a smile.
Despite being performed entirely in Russian without subtitles, the show resonated with the packed audience at Bulgaria Hall, who reportedly laughed throughout. Galkin’s delivery felt conversational and intimate, as if speaking to a close friend.
Galkin also shared his appreciation for the Bulgarian concept of “aylyak,” which he described as “Bulgarian zen.”
“We’d arrange to meet a friend at 12, and they’d arrive at 1:30 – that’s aylyak, without pressure. Or agreeing with craftsmen to start work on Tuesday, and they show up the following month,” Galkin explained, demonstrating his understanding of the Bulgarian mindset.
The show also included some political humor, drawing comparisons between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
Galkin performed his songs live, with the audience singing along and taking photos with the artist, who happily posed for them.
“A magnificent Maxim Galkin! When an artist is very talented and, above all, very intelligent, they know how to create such modern humor that unites the hall. Despite the understandable differences in the audience regarding current events. Fresh, interesting, with subtle humor, delivered with love for Bulgaria. Especially since he lived in Sliven as a child for a short time. We laughed a lot and applauded enthusiastically. Well done!” wrote PR expert Tsvetelina Uzunova after attending the show.
Galkin was in Bulgaria without his wife, legendary singer Alla Pugacheva. The performance is part of his world tour celebrating his 50th birthday, which he will mark on June 18. He will return to Bulgaria a month later, performing at the summer theater in Burgas on July 18, according to Kostadin Todorov, the organizer of his performances in the country.
